Bionicle Retro Review: The Toa Inika

[@colinroberts2060]

The Toa Inika were my first complete team of Toa, as the only Toa characters I had obtained up to that point were the Metru forms of Nokama (8602) and Onewa (8604). Out of the origin colors of the torsos introduced with them, they would appear the most often in black, while the shoulder armor would appear the most often in silver over the remainder of the theme. The Inika also continue a trend that the Piraka and even the Visorak from the preceding year had in that they "come in pairs", as you alluded to. Nuparu (8729) was my first of these, and my first Toa of earth, as I didn't obtain the Metru form of Whenua (8603) until 2007. The appearance of his Kanohi "Kaiden" led to Nuparu being referred to as a "Punk Rock Dude" by some fans, and the Inika shoulder armor in black is exclusive to him. In addition to his "Laser Drill", Nuparu is also the first Bionicle set to have the Visorak double socket joints in "medium stone gray". Matoro (8732) I would obtain a few weeks later, and was the only set to have the rounded Inika chest armor in silver, and the Zamor holder in white. The transparent fluorescent blue socket joints on him would appear in three other sets in '07, though I only had one of them. As I didn't have Keerakh (8619), Matoro was also my first and only time getting the Vahki legs in white, and his "Energized Ice Sword" also appeared in another set. Kongu (8731) I would obtain around mid-late September of that year as a late birthday gift from an aunt, and he was the only set to have the then-new leg parts in Metru green and the melded pointed Inika chest armor in a melded color scheme. Like Matoro's weapon, Kongu's "Laser Crossbow" is silver and he is the first of three sets to have the Visorak double socket joints in Metru green (earth green). The rounded Inika feet in the Metru green/silver melded color would also appear in another set in 2007. Hahli (8728) was my fourth Inika and was my 25th Bionicle set overall. While the melded rounded feet, lower legs and shoulder armor and her gunmetal "Laser Harpoon" were exclusive, the pointed Inika torso and the Zamor holder in gunmetal would come in two and one other sets respectively. Hahli was also the second and final set to have the Visorak double socket joints in white, and she was my first time getting the hand sockets in that color. As with Nuparu and Hahli, Jaller (8727) I obtained from Toys R Us as my fifth Inika around October of 2006, and was my first Toa of Fire in set form. He is the exception to the "they come in pairs" distinction as his "Energized Fire Sword" and pointed chest armor are exclusive to him in "warm gold", as are the socket joints in transparent bright orange, and the Zamor holder in Metru red. Of the six origin colors of the Inika knee armor, they would appear most often in Metru red, with the silver and white ones being a close second and third respectively. As I couldn't find him at Toys R Us on that day, I obtained Hewkii (8730) as my final Toa Inika the same month from Lego's own online store. Despite his primary color being gunmetal, Hewkii's canister lid is "Keet-orange" (flame yellow), and he is the first set to have the Toa Metru pelvis and the Visorak double socket joints in that color. Every piece in gunmetal is exclusive to him except for the Zamor Launcher, which debuted with Hakann (8901) and Avak (8904) earlier in the year. The chain would appear in four other sets and the "Laser Axe" would also appear in a Titan set with Matoro's weapon. Though not listed in their composite instructions, Hahli, Nuparu and Hewkii could be combined to make a character named "Toa Jovan", but the other three Toa never had a combiner model.

[@eddieholly648]

I honestly like what they did with G2 and the ball joint gear boxes. With a little love you can adapt this system to the toa metru body and integrate Piraka/inika limbs to create a metru build with geared/adjustable arms. If you are willing to cut up some torsos from the G2 unite'r line, you can swap the lower waste piece to utilize the waist function.

[@austingray6885]

My favorite Toa hands down

[@robethematoran6975]

They are really close to being my favorite as well but a part of me still really like the toa metru

[@austingray6885]

@@robethematoran6975 I was so hyped when the metru came out I think my parents liked them too because my brother and I got all of them for our birthdays and Christmas.

[@HadrorexHun]

Nuparu's zhamor spheres can be red. They come in a variety of shades between red and orange. Same for Hewkii. I got a lot of them back in the day, and now I display Hewkii with the orange zhamor, and Nuparu with red zhamor. It really was a matter of luck.

[@robethematoran6975]

Oh ok I wish I had gotten lucky the red ones looks so cool

[@the_collector_of_different_toy]

Also, the mctorens you show in the comparison is actually the purple and black one called onepu, nuparu is the orange and black one who came with the boxor

[@robethematoran6975]

Oh my goodness I completely didn’t realize that, oops what ya gonna do I guess mistakes happen lol

[@PelinalWhitestrake36]

>Fellow Inika Enjoyer My man! I love the gear functions but it really made playing with them annoying back in the day. Inika builds made posing and stop motion vids easier so I always enjoyed them. Shame not a lot of people like the Inikia builds....

[@robethematoran6975]

Ikr that’s why I always enjoyed the inika build so much more I get the gear function is really cool I like them myself but if I’m being totally honest they weren’t the greatest

[@OrdemDoGraveto]

Hahli mctoran feet should be dark blue, not medium blue.

[@robethematoran6975]

Oh dang you’re right i had forgot lol

[@daoyang5988]

Bionicle Ignition Saga 4: Matoro's Legacy